Ayotte Bill to Prevent Cruel Treatment of Horses Moves Forward

Press Release

The Senate Commerce Committee today approved bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to protect horses from the abusive practice known as soring - in which show horse trainers apply blistering or burning agents, lacerations, sharp objects, or other substances or devices to a horse's limb to intentionally make each step painful, forcing a horse to perform an exaggerated high-stepping gait that is rewarded in show rings. Senator Ayotte introduced the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (S. 1406) in July 2013 to prevent soring, an inhumane training practice that continues despite being prohibited under federal law. The PAST Act, which Ayotte introduced with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), has 50 Senate co-sponsors, and the House version of the legislation (H.R. 1518) has 268 cosponsors.

In 2010, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector General conducted an audit of the federal Horse Protection Program, which found that show horse trainers often go to great lengths to evade federal law prohibiting soring and requiring them to train horses using humane methods. The USDA Inspector General made several recommendations, including establishing stiffer penalties and abolishing the self-policing practices currently allowed under existing regulations, in which Horse Industry Organizations are able to assign their own inspectors to monitor horse shows.

"This bipartisan legislation takes an important step toward stopping an abusive training tactic that intentionally inflicts pain on horses," said Ayotte. "Soring is inhumane, and I will continue to work across the aisle to protect horses from this cruel practice."

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST ACT:

* Eliminates self-policing by requiring the USDA to assign a licensed inspector if the show's management indicates its intent to hire one. Licensed or accredited veterinarians, if available, would be given preference for these positions.

* Prohibits the use of action devices and pads on horse breeds that have been the victims of soring. Action devices, such as chains that rub up and down an already-sore leg, intensify the horse's pain when it moves, so that the horse quickly jolts up its leg.

* Increases the penalties on an individual caught soring a horse from a misdemeanor to a felony subject to up to three years' incarceration, increases fines from $3,000 to $5,000 per violation, and for a third violation allows permanent disqualification from participating in horse shows, exhibitions, sales or auctions.

Numerous groups have endorsed the bill, including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Horse Council, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

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